Jan. 22, 2010
By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - Part five of UCFAthletics.com's "Taking the Field With..." takes an inside look with freshmen Gregg Cooke and Austin Johnston.
#37 Gregg Cooke - RHP - Fr. - 6-7, 195 - Tampa, Fla./Sickles
Q: What is your first memory of playing baseball growing up?
- Playing T-ball at Northside Little League in Tampa.
Q: Is there a game you played in that you remember the most?
- Throwing my first no-hitter against Mitchell High School my junior year.
Q: What have you enjoyed the most so far about being at UCF?
- Hanging out with my teammates.
Q: If you won a trip to see a game at any ballpark in the country, where would go and why?
- The new Yankees Stadium. I would go because I loved being in New York and I heard that the stadium is ridiculous.
Q: What would be the one place or thing you want to visit before you die?
- Some isolated island far, far from humanity.
Q: Is there anything you have to do before a game, such as any pregame rituals?
- I used to eat McDonalds before every game a long time ago.
Q: Growing up, what was your video game of choice?
- My video game of choice was 007 GoldenEye on the Nintendo 64, one of the top 10 games ever made.
Q: What do you prefer watching: Top Chef, 24, American Idol, Price is Right, Deadliest Catch, The Office?
- This is a tough one, I like to watch the first couple weeks of American Idol just to hear Simon. But Price is Right is a classic.
Q: What reality show would you like to be on the most?
- Not too sure how realistic the reality shows are, but if I had to choose, I would pick the Real World?
Q: If someone was making a movie about your life, who would you want to play yourself?
- Dane Cook.
Q: What would be the one thing you would wait in line overnight to have?
- A 100 mph fastball.
Q: Tell us one thing you would like people to know about you.
- I used to be a pretty good swimmer back in the day.
#5 Austin Johnston - IF - Fr. - 6-2, 190 - Winter Haven, Fla./Winter Haven
Q: What is your first memory of playing baseball growing up?
- Playing baseball in my backyard with my dad and older brother.
Q: Is there a game you played in that you remember the most?
- Losing my last game as a junior and senior. We should have gone much farther.
Q: What have you enjoyed the most so far about being at UCF?
- Playing baseball at a higher level.
Q: If you won a trip to see a game at any ballpark in the country, where would go and why?
- Rosenblatt Stadium. I want to be playing there instead of visiting.
Q: What would be the one place or thing you want to visit before you die?
- I'm not sure. I'm pretty happy in Florida. Maybe Hawaii though.
Q: Is there anything you have to do before a game, such as any pregame rituals?
- I listen to my iPod and pray.
Q: Growing up, what was your video game of choice?
- Ninja Turtles for SEGA Genesis.
Q: What do you prefer watching: Top Chef, 24, American Idol, Price is Right, Deadliest Catch, The Office?
- The Office. Best comedy on TV.
Q: If someone was making a movie about your life, who would you want to play yourself?
- Denzel Washington.
Q: What would be the one thing you would wait in line overnight to have?
- (Freshman pitcher) Joe Rogers' calves.
Season tickets for the 2010 campaign are already on sale. The Knights will play 36 games at home this year, and reserved chairbacks are just $199, while reserved bleachers seats are only $150. Faculty/staff, youth and senior season tickets are $99. To purchase tickets, call 407-823-1000 or visit UCFAthletics.com.
Tickets for Baseball Knight Fest Jan. 30 are on sale as well. The event is free to everyone who wish to meet the team and get autographs, but for just $5 a ticket fans will be able to grab a ballpark meal from Outback Steakhouse and be eligible for prizes. Opening day is set for Friday, Feb. 19, against Savannah State.
And for the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures, and become a follow of the Knights at Twitter.com.